好逸恶劳
好逸恶劳 (hào yì wù láo) literally means “love ease hate work” and expresses “love ease, hate work”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: hao yi wu lao, hao yi wu lao,好逸恶劳 meaning, 好逸恶劳 in english
Love ease, hate work
Pronunciation: hào yì wù láo Literal meaning: Love ease hate work
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes the human tendency to love (好) ease (逸) and hate (恶) work (劳). First appearing in pre-Qin philosophical texts, it was used by Mencius to warn against the natural but problematic inclination toward comfort over effort. The phrase gained particular significance during the Song Dynasty when Neo-Confucian scholars used it to discuss moral cultivation and character development. They argued that recognizing this tendency was the first step in overcoming it. Modern usage often appears in educational and professional contexts as a reminder that success requires pushing beyond our comfort zones. It serves as both a warning against laziness and an acknowledgment that disciplined effort often goes against our natural inclinations.
Examples
English: "The team's productivity suffered from members who avoided challenging tasks"
Chinese: 团队中有人喜欢偷懒避难，影响了工作效率
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
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塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
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近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
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夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
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因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
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四面楚歌
sì miàn chǔ gē
Surrounded by hostility
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 好逸恶劳 mean in English?
好逸恶劳 (hào yì wù láo) literally translates to “Love ease hate work” and is used to express “Love ease, hate work”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 好逸恶劳 used?
Situation: The team's productivity suffered from members who avoided challenging tasks
What is the pinyin for 好逸恶劳?
The pinyin pronunciation for 好逸恶劳 is “hào yì wù láo”.
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